From a UK DVD forum, it seems the Dracula POD screen grabs may not be the official final images. And they may even be from a DVD (I think that like Quatermass and the Pit the Optimum releases are combos)

According to one customer reviewer (reviewing an old VHS release), the film was a huge success in Australia, playing at different venues for almost five years prior to its television sale.Saw a copy for sale on Ebay but the asking price was £25 plus. Anyone else got any info about this disc?

I have to say that when it comes to 'noise-reduction' and 'grain' I'm a novice but it all sounds a bit techno-film-purist to my ears. I appreciate that some people have a problem with this filtering issue but, personally, I know what I like. If this disc offers a vibrant Hammer palette in saturated Technicolour as described ('opulently bright and garish' no less)and the image is appreciably sharper than my current disc then I'll be a very happy customer.

I've seen several cases of split screen 'before and after' restoration comparisons. They never convince me. How do you know that they doctored the 'before' image to make it look worse? I'm not saying that is the case here but I can't resist suspecting it every time I see it.

UURRRGG! I was just proof reading a long and thought out post and it somehow dissapeared! Hate that!
Anyway the long and short of it was that if they continue to use this DNR stuff to get rid of grain I'll just buy it and sell the Blu copy as I would need to buy a region free Blu-ray player just to view it (/them) anyway, and thats more than my budget allows right now. I already have a region free DVD player and the restoration is much better than my window-boxed AB release so I'll keep the DVD and be happy enough.

I would however, like to see nice un-DNR'd copies in the future- then I'll get that Darned region free blu player. ;>)
Jim